Education Majors Rush To Finish

They Say Cnu Misled Them

January 22, 2003|By JUSTIN GEORGE Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS — Education majors who were told they had 18 months to complete required coursework at Christopher Newport University before their department closes for good now find themselves hustling to finish in five.

Students say they feel overburdened by the looming May 10 deadline and misled by administrators who they say gave them and the public the impression that the Education Department -- as well as the nursing and leisure studies departments -- would remain open until spring 2004.

"If I don't get it done, where am I going to go?" said Heather Norville, a junior from Hampton who said she's taking 16 education credits this semester. She said she'll have to rush into summer school to finish her coursework -- something she wasn't counting on -- and likely pay about $2,000 in day care so she can attend.

But the university's provost disagrees that CNU officials misled students, saying the administration has been straightforward with students and faculty from the start.

"I really don't think that there's been any misleading," Provost Richard Summerville said. "Certainly none that I have known of."

CNU officials decided this fall to cut its education, nursing and leisure studies departments, insisting it was the only way to survive a $4 million state funding shortfall. But following that announcement -- and subsequent outcry -- President Paul Trible said in a Dec. 17 Daily Press guest editorial that juniors and seniors in the cut programs would be able to finish their education at CNU by spring 2004.

But, in fact, education majors will be able to take classes only through this summer, because none will be offered next fall or spring. Also closing this May will be the nursing and leisure studies departments.

Instead, juniors in the Education Department are supposed to use next year to train as student teachers in state school districts, an internship required for graduation. Traditionally, however, said an education professor, students return to class after interning to complete coursework toward their degree.

The situation has upset one legislator enough to introduce a bill that would forbid higher institutions in Virginia to close departments that offer degrees in education and nursing, two fields he considers "high need."

"It's sort of breaking a contract with kids who enrolled there," said Del. Robert Tata, R-Virginia Beach.

Tata's House Bill 2489 would require state universities to consult with the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia before terminating nursing and education departments in the future.

"When we're out there scrounging around for teachers and there's a great shortage of nurses," Tata said, "I think it would behoove somebody who's going to cut those programs out to tell the state council of higher education the reasons why."

CNU has licensed an average of 84 teachers each year for the last decade. Nursing department officials say they graduate between 20 and 25 nurses each year and had hoped to double that number over the next few years.

Even if Tata's bill passes, however, it wouldn't affect CNU because it's not retroactive.

Professors said the fast pace of coursework is compromising the quality of student education.

"Students are being put in a position where they have to rush to take classes in a haphazard manner so they could meet our timeline," said Adriane Dorrington, an associate professor in education. "I just don't think that education is valued by the administration. The actions don't show they value education. They speak it, but their actions don't convey it."

Instructors and students are growing more vocal to try to save their program from the chopping block. Next Monday and Tuesday, education and nursing students plan to lobby state legislators in Richmond for a reprieve.

Michelle Andre, a junior education major from Chesapeake, said she might not graduate in time. She now has only a few months to complete her coursework and work with instructors.

"I thought they would be around for a while," said Andre, also president of the CNU chapter of the Student Virginia Education Association. "That's going to cost me a few thousand more dollars at ODU or somewhere."

Jane Bailey, an associate professor and former chairwoman of the Education Department, said the CNU administration has been causing this misconception, softening its message in public by saying that juniors would have 18 more months.

"I think the public needs to understand this all ends May 10," Bailey said.

Angela Wilson, Nursing Department chairwoman, said the administration is also telling the public that stranded nursing students will be taken care of by Riverside Health System, which will accept CNU students into its nursing program next year. But, Wilson said, that will last only one year.